Tchaikovsky explores some very interesting themes in this novella.

· Sufficiently advanced technology as indistinguishable from magic.
· Interstellar colonization.
· Linguistics.
· Mythology.
· The prime directive.
· Lowliness.
· Depression.

All packaged in a quest to save the kingdom from a mysterious threat.

A beautiful tale that can be regarded as a homage to Ursula K. Le Guin.